And I really, really like it! I had kicked around getting a Q119 from synthesizers.com, or even the Q960 (Moog clone…) but in the end, opted for the smaller footprint and lower price.
I’m glad I did! The build quality seems tough enough for studio work, and even for light gigging. It took a bit of thinking to make sense of the instructions, however after a little trial and error, I ended up finding and labeling the wires for the pitch CV, the velocity CV, and the gate CV. I’m using mode 1 right now (16 step) and it has proved to be perfectly adequate for my needs. Dialing in the number of steps for the sequence, and the note, velocity, and gate duration for each step, couldn’t be easier. However, I have discovered that it is best to save the sequence after each change, especially if you start out with a small numer of steps to begin with, and add steps as you build the sequence, as it doesn’t remember that you added a step unless you save the sequence with the new step before you play it. Otherwise, if you don’t save it first, it will play the sequence with the new step(s) for the first iteration, but will then discard the new step(s) in subsequent iterations.
I also noticed that if you call up a stored 16 step sequence and play it, then call up an 8 step sequence and play it, in the first iteration of the 8 step sequence, it will run through 16 steps, but then after that, run through the 8 steps like it’s supposed to. Has anyone experienced this with theirs?
Anyway, I should’ve gotten this a long, long time ago! It really makes a difference, allowing me to explore further than I have before!
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the MFB Step 64. It looks interesting enough, but I personally find the Future Retro Orb to be more attractive, as well as compatible with modular gear (0-10v). I’ve also heard that it’s a bit more complicated, though. I think I’ll look into the MFB…LED’s can always be swapped, after all. There are other things I must purchase first, unfortunately…
Yeah, I took a look at that, it has a lot of nice features, and I really like that it’s so easy to see in the dark, but decided to go with the Step64 after seeing that it had what I needed at a very good price. Plus, its size made it very easy to integrate into my current setup, which is rather compact by necessity.
I’m not a fan of compact…but if it works it works. I could get one now, except I’ll be spending too much this year…I NEED to finish saving for a house to put all the stuff I want to buy in.
…man I know exactly how you feel. Its like when you have to save is the time you want to spend the most.
Great to hear some feedback about the step64 tho. I’ve been wanting one as well. Let me know how polyphonic and/or running multiply monophonic sequences goes if you can.
Since I only have the Voyager right now, polyphony and multiple mono sequences are not in the cards for now. I can use the other CVs to mod other sources, however I’m really only interested in using it for running mono sequences using pitch, velocity, and gate CVs. I may explore deeper at some point in the future, but right now it’s doing exactly what I got it for.
i use mode 3…4 x cv/gate only mono sequences. one sequence is used for its gate only, acting as a clock for my Q119, controlling one voice of my modular. another sequence is programmed as a bass line (actually several sequences grouped into one song) through another voice of the modular. that’s about all i use at one time…maybe a 3rd sequence doing some filter modulation. all this leaves my voyager old school free for soloing, or for adding sound effects while i improvise on guitar (which is my primary instrument).
i first bought the step64 to control the old school, but then along came some modules…
the midi out of the step64 sends clock tempo info to my mfb 502 drum machine, too
“CV uses 1V/Oct. characteristic and covers a range of 5 octaves. The gate outputs can either deliver 5 or 10 Volts output. Press STEP 9 or STEP 10, while powering up, to select between 5 and 10 Volts. Polarity can also be selected: Power up with STEP 11 pressed, to select positive polarity (On = 5/10 V). STEP 12 will select negative polarity.”
The Little Phatty CV inputs are:
Pitch CV: -5 to + 5V
Filter CV: -5 to +5V
Volume CV: 0 to +5V
Keyboard Gate: +5V trigger
1. Can you set the MFB-64 to the entire 10V range of -5V to +5V or just +/-5V fixed?
2. Furthermore, do you have to make the settings at each power-up, or does the MFB remember?
How well does it do with external voltage? I really wanna set up a VC Sequencer and control the step rate with envelopes, and the only single module I’ve found that does this costs almost as much as the Old School I want even more!
CV out is 1V/octave for 5 octaves…what note is actually heard depends on how the step64 CV is programmed (which note/voltage selected), how your synth octave switch is set, and which keyboard key is pressed…and how your pitchbend wheel is positioned, too.
the step64 remembers your last power-up key presses.
Lol, I totally misread! I was looking at the synth.com Q119 last night after seeing Avatar, I think I left my head in the stars!
The Q119 I saw does accept an external clock – do any of yall have exp with this unit?
